Notorious Nightingale

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Naging kampante ako na tuloy pa rin ang Night Court ko sa kanilang responsibilidad, lalo na si Marshall sa pagpapatayo niya ng imperyo sa Nightingale Island dahil kasama nila si Genesis. Her being alive simply means that I was too and that should be enough motivation for them to continue what I left behind—I know they are waiting for me to return, and I will. I also have to go back and revive Shinigami... I know I can do it. I don’t want to lose him, or any member of my Night Court. I managed to save my mother... At least turn her into a child, I can do the same to Shinigami and turn his time to the time before he died. I can already contain and control my magic, thanks to the wisdom and the purification that the Tree of Life gave me.

On this other side called as the Timeless Dimension where we stand on top of the water, I tried to talk to Genesis as we were connected mentally, but the dimension where we were at is blocking off everything that comes from outside.

“May bigla akong naalala.” Humarap ako kay Margaux, “the water that is coming out of the jar that the siren statue is holding... The one on top of Wynonah’s house. Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Margaux, the water that is coming out and flowing to the lake comes from a portal. Kagagawan mo ba iyon?”

“Ah, yes. The water actually comes from here.” Tinuro ni Margaux ang tubig na aming inaapakan lang. Hindi kami nababasa nito o kahit ano. Para lamang kaming nakalutang sa isang salaming walang hangganan, hindi mawari kung may dulo nga rin ba. “The portal serves as a connection from this dimension to Terra Forma, the real world. If the connection is severed, then there will be no way back to the real world. We’ll be stuck here forever.”

“And time flows so slow in here, an hour here is a day there... For me, tatlong araw lang akong nawala sa kabila, pero para sa mga tao sa kabila, tatlong buwan na.”

“Well, that’s how it is. We cannot question when it is already nature speaking.” Aniya. She was right. It was beyond our control already. “Anyway, it seems like you’re in good spirit and that you’re purified. Also, remember always, Zendaya, that it is all in the mind. And just because you are purified does not mean that you can no longer be toxified. You can still be... It will always depend on your emotions and mind. You have to be strong inside. You have to strengthen and fortify your heart.” Tinuro niya ang tapat ng aking puso.

I nodded. “I know... Somehow, when I meditated as the Tree of Life was purifying me, I felt like all the questions I had inside me were answered. It felt like the tree was giving me wisdom. Sadly, it’s gone.”

“Well, I believe the Tree of Life is a fragment of King Prius’s soul before he was overpowered with negative energy. It’s his wisdom that he has passed down unto you, unto me as well... And it is time that you put it to good use.” Margaux answered. “Anyway, it’s time to go back to the other side.”

“Margaux,” I called her name and she looked at me with curious eyes, her pale blue eyes that almost seemed white were so mesmerizing and beautiful. She was unearthly. Well, she was beautiful. “Will you join my Night Court?”

I took a nightingale emblem from the pocket of my cloak and offered it to her.

“I’ve been stuck in this dimension because I was afraid that if I go back to the real world, I may hurt someone again with my magic.” Pagsisimula ni Margaux, “I had the option to live there, on the real world, but I decided to stay because it will be safer here, because I am alone and I cannot hurt anyone. But after seeing you struggle and do your best to remain in control, and to use your powers instead to help those who needs it, I was inspired.” Naglakad si Margaux palapit at saka siya yumuko, “it is an honor to join your Night Court, Queen Zendaya.”

And with that, she let me pin the nightingale insignia unto her dress.

“Now, it’s really time to go. My people are already waiting for me on the other side.”

Margaux chanted a spell, her eyes and the cryptic tattoos on her skin glowed a beautiful pastel blue color. “Ignisio portalia Terra Forma, il dimensia azurio.”

Out of nowhere, something that looked like a black hole appeared in front of us... But it did not suck us in, instead, it looked like a door that was waiting for us to enter so that we can finally go back to the other side. It was glowing with shades of purple—it felt like I was looking at a galaxy too, or maybe I actually am. This is Margaux’s magic—Portal. With her magic, it’d be easier to travel around the Kingdom and to all the places I want to be at.

“Think of the place where you wanna go... Visualize it clearly or else we may end up at a different place. Then we walk through the portal.” Saad ni Margaux, pagkatapos ay hinawakan niya ang aking kamay. “You’ll lead us to the place. Kung saan ang iniisip mo, doon tayo dadalhin ng aking kapangyarihan.”

Tumango naman ako at agad kong inisip ang bahay ni Wynonah... After all, the deal was we would meet there.

When I was finally ready, I smiled. “Let’s go, Margaux.”

Tumango naman siya at sabay kaming naglakad papasok sa lagusan. When we crossed the portal, we were suddenly standing at the floating deck, just in front of Wynonah’s house. The scenery changed, just like that. And the portal behind us started to close and vanish in thin air, as if it never existed in the first place.

“It’s good to be back.” I said... Kasabay nito ay nakarinig ako ng ingay mula sa loob ng bahay ni Wynonah, na tila may tumatakbong mga tao. And just like that, the door opened, revealing Wynonah with a shocked face.

“Z-Zendaya... I knew it... When I immediately sensed your immense power.” Tears started to fall from her eyes as she ran towards me and pulled me into a warm embrace. “You’re finally back.”

“I am.” I smiled, behind her, Enzo, Marayuka, and Lilith appeared. Napalingon din ako at napatingin sa katubigan kung saan nakita ko ang mga sirenang niligtas namin na agad na lumitaw. Everyone was here, except Shinigami.

“How long was I gone?” I asked.

“Three months.” Sagot ni Enzo, pagkatapos ay tiningnan niya ako nang taas-baba. “Parang kakaiba ka na pero ang suot mo, iyon din ang suot mo tatlong buwan na ang nakaraan. Naligo ka ba?”

“Tatlong araw lang akong nawala sa lugar kung saan nasaan ako.” I scowled. Pagkatapos ay tumingin silang lahat kay Margaux. Agad naman siyang yumuko upang magpakilala.

“I am Margaux.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata nina Wynonah at Lilith nang malaman kung sino ang babaeng nasa likuran ko.

“She was the one who saved me and help me deal with my magic. I am finally in control already. Hindi ko na kailangan ang singsing o ang plauta upang magamit nang husto ang aking kapangyarihan.” Pagpapaliwanag ko.

Tumakbo si Wynonah pagkatapos at tumigil sa harap ni Margaux, “this city, it was named after you, is it true that it is because you teleported it in this lake with your magic?!”

Tumango naman si Margaux. “Yes, it is true.”

“Judging by your ram-like horns and your pointed ears, you’re an elf. So, I was right to deduce that all this time, you were an elf. Because of the portal on top of this house.” Lilith said, “ilang taon ka na?”

“698.” Sagot ni Margaux.

Chapter 62

Lumabi naman si Lilith, “I’m older. But it’s okay, Genesis is the oldest. I’m 699 years old, and the other one we’ll meet soon is 700 years old.”

The mood was bright because of the reality that I was already back, but I felt the heaviness that everyone felt, especially the ones I left behind. They were still mourning for Shinigami. Hindi man nila ipahalata, pero nararamdaman ko iyon.

But their sadness will come to an end... I’ll patch my mistakes and bring Shinigami back from the dead with my magic. He was gone because of me, but I can return him. It will surely consume a lot of energy, and it’ll probably take more than a week for me to be able to recover, but it’ll all be worth it. It’s nothing in comparison to the fact that I can save him from his eternal slumber.

Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata, at hinayaan kong mabuksan ang parte ng isip ko kung saan konektado kami ni Genesis.

“Zendaya?” It was her worried voice.

“Yes, I’m finally back.” Sagot ko naman sa aking isip. “We have a lot of things to talk about when I come there. But how is everything going?”

“The Nightingale Island is good to go already; the only problem is the bridge that will connect the island to the mainland.”

“Don’t worry. When I come back, I’ll take care of it. Now, focus on bringing the marginalized people and those who needs a home to live in the island.”

“Alright. It’s good to hear from you again after three months, Zendaya.” I can feel the happiness in her voice. “We were all worried. And we missed you.”

“Yes, and I can finally control my powers.”

“I see that.” Genesis said, “your thoughts are calmer now, and purer as well. About Shinigami...”

“I can bring him back.” I cut off. “And I’ll do it now.”

I smiled and severed the connection off. I faced everyone who were all waiting for my next move. I asked that we all go back inside again... And the sirens who watched at the water went back to the lake’s depth.

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng bahay ni Wynonah pagkatapos ang pagsasalubong. It was still the same. Mula sa salaming sahig nito ay nakita namin ang mga sirena sa ilalim na tila sinusundan kami.

I looked at everyone. It really felt like three days only, but for them, it was three long months that I was gone. I had to know updates on what happened during the time that I was gone. But anyways, they waited for me. Halata naman. Dahil nang naramdaman agad nina Wynonah ang kakaibang presensiya sa labas ng kaniyang bahay, they ran. It only took less than a minute for them to know that I was finally back. It warmed my heart... It felt good to have a place to return to. Is this what they call home? And I found it in their presence.

We went to the conference hall of Wynonah’s house. Nakaupo kaming lahat ngayon sa pahabang mesa kung saan ako ang nasa kabisera, isang simbolo ito na ako ang pinuno nila. I asked everyone to give me updates, and Marayuka took the pleasure of doing it. Hindi rin kumawala sa aking pagtingin ang lihim na tinginan nina Marayuka at Enzo... It seems like something is happening between them. And I know what that is... Love, or whatever that is. It seems like during the three months that I was gone, something sparked and developed between them.

“With Pope-King Mateo Xavier III sitting on the Grand Throne, Nephyria Kingdom has gone worse. Everyone were forced to join the Church and those who resisted were labelled as pagans and they were executed. Also, a lot of poor people were taken and turned into slaves, this is the doing of Alexandro Belmonto... He said that it was a way of stabilizing the falling economy of the kingdom, since due to the fact that the Church made an official statement that magical creatures and beasts exists because of your curse, merchants and adventurers became too afraid to mobilize as they feared for their lives.”

Habang sinasabi ni Marayuka ang mga nangyari sa loob ng tatlong buwan na nawala ako ay hindi ko maiwasang magalit.

“Anyway, those who were supporting you were also branded as spawns of the devil, and they were killed. Your name, Zendaya Zandeyi Nightingale, was also banned from being spoken by anyone in the kingdom, those who are heard to be talking about you were also branded as criminals and sinners.”

“They must be growing paranoid.” I said, kumuyom ang aking kamao.

“Well, after what happened at Encora City three months ago,” bahagyang natigil si Marayuka matapos niyang sabihin iyon, pagkatapos ay bumuntonghininga siya, “they think that you’re behind that... After what happened to the city, people began thinking that you’re finally back... And the poor were mostly happy about it, you can say the opposite to those on top of the caste system.”

“And because of the idea that I am back, the aristocrats are afraid that the poor may cause an uprising and overthrow them. So, they oppressed them by all means.” I concluded.

Tumango naman si Marayuka habang ang ibang miyembro ay seryoso lang na nakikinig sa usapan.

Hindi ko maiwasang magalit dahil sa aking mga nalaman, at dahil doon ay umapaw ang aking kapangyarihan. I calmed myself down, and my magic subsided. “Now that I am back, I will not let them just do what they want anymore.”

Tumango naman si Lilith.

“Where did you bury Shinigami’s body?” I was direct to the point already after I was fed with information about the state of the kingdom. I finally brought up his name, at dahil doon, bahagya silang natigilan. That was the thing they were trying their hardest to avoid. Perhaps they did not want me to know he was already dead, even if I already knew from the start as he died because of me, maybe they were afraid I might lose control again.

Well, after seeing me lose control and cause chaos and destruction unto this world, hindi ko sila masisisi... Especially if they were being cautious.

“Follow me.” Saad ni Wynonah matapos ang ilang segundo ng katahimikan. Lumabas na kami sa silid at naglakad sa pasilyo ng kaniyang bahay, hangga’t sa naabot namin ang isang dulo. It was a chamber. Sa gitna nito ay isang itim na kabaong. I didn’t need to ask anymore who was inside.

Naiwan ang mga kasama ko sa likod at pinanood akong maglakad palapit. I stood in front of the coffin and opened it, to see Shinigami who seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

“I preserved his body with my magic.” Wynonah said as I watched Shinigami. Nothing changed and he did not rot at all. He was still beautiful. It was thanks to Wynonah.

“Can you revive him?” Lilith asked.

“I can.”

And just like that, I let my powers out and imagined of the time that Shinigami was alive. I closed my eyes and remembered his smile that I first saw under the night sky, as we both watched the beautiful and magical city of Encora. I let the lifeless form that used to be Shinigami’s vessel to contain the power that I was giving.

I let my magic reverse the time of the lifeless body that laid down at the coffin. I pulled the strings and imagined Shinigami, alive once more. Warm and golden light started to embody Shinigami’s corpse, then it slowly sipped into his skin like water being evaporated into nothingness.

“Wake up, Shinigami.” I whispered to his ears.

And just like that, he opened his eyes, “Zendaya?”